A full-grown giraffe became stuck when its weight apparently caused a septic tank to collapse at the Marloth Park wildlife preserve in South Africa. Veterinarian Cobus Raath and a team of rescuers worked to free the animal.

Dr Raath said his team blindfolded the giraffe and put cotton wool in it ears to try and calm the animal down.

They then tied a rope around his head and pulled it down towards the ground while a team of 20 volunteers helped heave it out of the hole.

"The animal was distressed and had been trying to get out," he said.

"We decided not to incapacitate him but blindfolded him to try and calm him down.

"We then called a load of local people who rushed to help and we used ropes and brute force to pull him out of the hole sideways."

The operation took about 20 minutes to get him out.

The giraffe was treated for shock and was freed after appearing to recover nicely. Link -via Arbroath